Greg Hinz On Politics

Honeymoon coming to an end for Sen. Mark Kirk

In the sharpest criticism he's received since returning to work, a Chicago civic and research group is ripping U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., over his opposition to President Barack Obama's pick to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“There's no two ways around it: A vote against (Richard) Cordray's confirmation is a vote for fewer protections for Illinois consumers,” the Woodstock Institute said in a statement after Mr. Cordray's appointment was approved by a partisan 12-10 vote by a Senate committee, with Mr. Kirk joining all Republicans in voting no.

“Delaying Cordray's confirmation because of political brinksmanship harms consumers (and) continues destructive uncertainty in the financial system,” Woodstock President Dory Rand said in the statement. “(It) allows predatory financial practices to flourish.”

Woodstock is considered nonpartisan, but is known for its strong advocacy on issues such as red-lining.

Mr. Kirk's office declined to comment. Senate Republicans generally have argued that the new office, created after the 2008 financial collapse, gives the bureau's director too much power, and that a supervisory board needs to be established before any director is confirmed.

Financial reformers strongly disagree. Woodstock and others had written Mr. Kirk in advance of the vote, contending that the bureau already has performed valuable work and suggesting that, had it been in existence before, Chicago would not be suffering through a wave of home foreclosures.